Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of live weight and body condition score, measured at different growth stages, on the rebreeding of first-calf heifers. A total of 120 Nellore and Charolais crossbred heifers born between 2004 and 2008 were assessed. Their average age was 26±1 months, they were all from the same herd, and they received the same management from birth. To conduct this study, pre- and postpartum measurements of first-calf heifers were taken. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, and the means were compared using Student’s t-test at a significance level of α=0.05. A higher live weight of the heifer at 24 months enabled early calving within the first calving season (r=-0.30). First-calf heifers that rebred had a higher live weight at weaning (361 kg vs. 333 kg) than those that did not, although their live weights at calving were similar (344 kg vs. 332 kg). The rebreeding of first-calf heifers that gave birth with the same body condition score as in the first calving was dependent on positive live weight gain until the end of the following breeding season, especially during the calving-weaning period.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del peso vivo y la puntuación de condición corporal, medido en diferentes fases de crecimiento, sobre la repetición de la cría en primíparas. Se evaluaron 120 novillas cruzadas Nellore con Charoles nacidas entre los años 2004 y 2008, con edad media de 26±1 meses siendo todas oriundas del mismo rebaño y que reciben idéntico manejo desde el nacimiento. Para la realización de este estudio se utilizaron de la base de datos a las mediciones de la primípara en el pre y post-partos. Los datos fueron sometidos al análisis de varianza y las medias comparadas a través del test “t” de Student, a α=0,05 de probabilidad. El mayor del peso vivo de la novilla a los 24 meses proporciona que el parto ocurra por adelantado dentro de la primera estación de parición (r=-0,30). Primíparas que repetían crea presentaron mayor peso vivo al destete (361 kg vs. 333 kg) de las que no repitieron crea, aunque hubiera peso vivo al parto semejante entre sí (344 kg vs. 332 kg). La repetición de la cría de primíparas que paren con la misma puntuación de condición corporal, en el primer parto, es dependiente de la ganancia de peso vivo positivo hasta el final de la estación de montaje siguiente, principalmente en el período parto-destete.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the influence of calving and postpartum characteristics, measured in different genetic predominance, on the postpartum rebreeding. Were evaluated 437 partum from cows that received feeding management consisting of a forage base of the native field and the mating season consisted of 90 days. The measurements were used from the data base (age of cow, genetic predominance, body weight, body condition score and date of calving) of the cows in the partum and postpartum period. The variables were submitted to analysis of multiple variances, multiple regression, correlation and cluster. Already the groups formed by cluster analysis were submitted to analysis of variance and F test and the means, compared by Student’s t-test, α=0.05 probability. The increase in the mean at 0.14 points in the body condition score at calving and the occurrence of calving 9 days earlier at the calving season gives the Charolais genetically predominant cows repeat calves. The Nellore genetic predominance when they calved with similar body condition score (2.32 points) and showed a negative body weight gain at weaning (-3.0 kg and -2.1 kg) showed different behaviors, where they did not repeat the offspring, when they calved and weaned with smaller body weight.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos da imunocastração sobre o desempenho e a qualidade de carcaça de novilhos em terminação, em comparação à não castração e à castração cirúrgica. Analisaram-se dados de dez estudos, com registros de 1.261 bovinos machos. Os estudos incluídos na meta-análise continham, necessariamente, tratamentos com imunização ativa contra o hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas. Cada estudo foi considerado como efeito aleatório no modelo estatístico utilizado. Os dados foram testados quanto à homogeneidade de variâncias e à normalidade dos resíduos, e, posteriormente, submetidos à análise de variância. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste t de Student. Os novilhos não castrados apresentaram maiores ganho de peso diário, eficiência alimentar, pesos ao abate e de carcaça quente, e área de olho de lombo, além de menor espessura de gordura que os castrados cirurgicamente e menores valores de a* e b*, para coloração da carne. No geral, os novilhos imunocastrados foram inferiores aos não castrados, mas superiores aos castrados cirurgicamente. Novilhos submetidos à imunocastração apresentam características de desempenho e de carcaça superiores aos castrados cirurgicamente, mas qualidade de carne similar.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of immunocastration on the performance and carcass quality of steers in the finishing phase, compared with non-castration and surgical castration. Data from ten studies with records of 1,261 male bovines were analyzed. The studies included in the meta-analysis necessarily contained treatments with immunocastration specifically against the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Each study was considered as a random effect in the statistical model used. The data were tested for homogeneity of variances and residue normality, and then subjected to the analysis of variance. Means were compared by Student’s t-test. Non-castrated steers showed greater daily weight gain, feed efficiency, slaughter and hot carcass weights, and loin eye area, besides lower fat thickness than surgically-castrated animals and the lowest a* and b* meat coloration values. Overall, immunocastrated steers were inferior to the non-castrated ones, but superior to those surgically-castrated. Immunocastrated steers present performance and carcass traits superior to those of surgically-castrated animals, but similar meat quality.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil lipídico da carne de novilhos Devon, terminados em pastagem de milheto (Pennisetum americanum) e alimentados com dieta suplementar de um concentrado a diferentes taxas. Doze animais, com 270 kg e idade média inicial de 12 meses, foram distribuídos ao acaso, em três tratamentos: pastagem de milheto; pastagem de milheto e suplemento concentrado a 0,5 ou 1,0% do peso corporal, com duas repetições. Os teores totais de ácidos graxos saturados e insaturados, a relação poli‑insaturados:saturados e outros ácidos relevantes como o vacênico, o linoleico conjugado, o ômega‑3 e ômega‑6 não foram influenciados pelo consumo de suplemento concentrado a 0,5 ou 1,0% do peso vivo. Entretanto, a suplementação a 0,5% reduziu a concentração do ácido graxo dihomo‑γ‑linolênico (C20:3 n‑6), enquanto a suplementação a 1,0% elevou o teor do ácido graxo docosahexaenoico (DHA) (C22:6 n‑3) e a relação ômega‑6:omega‑3 na carne. O consumo de até 1,0% de suplemento energético aumenta a relação ômega‑6:ômega‑3 na carne de novilhos Devon mantidos em pastagem de milheto.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the meat lipid profile from Devon beef steers finished in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) pasture and fed at different rates of concentrate supplementary diet. Twelve steers weighing 270 kg, at 12‑month‑average initial age, were randomly distributed into three treatments: pearl millet pasture; and pearl millet pasture plus a concentrate equivalent at 0.5 or 1.0% of body weight, with two replicates. Total contents of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, the polyunsaturated:saturated ratio and other relevant fatty acids as the vaccenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, omega‑3, and omega‑6 were not affected by the consumption of a concentrate supplement at 0.5 or 1.0% live weight. However, the 0.5% supplementation level reduced the concentration of dihomo‑γ‑linolenic fatty acid (C20: 3 n‑6), while the 1.0% supplementation level elevated the content of docosahexaenoic (DHA) (C22: 6 n‑3) fatty acid, and the omega‑6:omega‑3 ratio in meat. Consumption of up to 1.0% energy supplementation increases the omega‑6:omega‑3 ratio in meat from Devon steers grazing on pearl millet pasture.